The Shiner St. Paul Lady Cardinals won their third overall TAPPS state championship
this past weekend in Abilene. St. Paul defeated Bryan St. Joseph 52-39 in the semifinals on Friday
( March 3, 2017 ) and Muenster Sacred Heart 38-31 in the championship game on Saturday ( March 4, 2017 ).
[ click photo to enlarge ]

photo courtesy of Lynette Pesek

The Shiner St. Paul Lady Cardinals basketball team won the TAPPS 2A state title last
weekend ( March 3-4, 2017 ) in Abilene.

It was the third basketball title for the Lady Cardinals and the first since 1999.

St. Paul defeated Muenster Sacred Heart 38-31 on Saturday ( March 4, 2017 ) in
the final after a 52-39 win over Bryan St. Joseph Friday ( March 3 ) in the semifinals.

Gracey Novosad, Grace Irvin and Emma Morgan were all chosen for the All-Tournament Team.

SEMIFINAL: St. Paul routs BSJ after early deficit

The Lady Cardinals trailed Bryan St. Joseph in the first quarter but came back with a 14-13
lead at the end. In the second frame, St. Paul went on an 11-6 run and then outscored the Lady
Eagles 16-12 in the third period. St. Paul held a slight advantage in the fourth quarter 11-8.

Morgan had six rebounds, three assists, one steal, three deflections; Irvin had five rebounds,
one assist, four steals, five deflections; Delynn Pesek had three rebounds, one steal. Parker
Clay had three rebounds, one steal, one deflection; Christine Wagner had three rebounds, two assists,
two steals, one deflection. Novosad had two rebounds, three assists, three steals, two deflections;
Riley Johnson had one rebound, one steal, two deflections; Kayla Malatek had one rebound,
two assists, one steal, one deflection.

The Lady Cardinals took an 8-6 lead following the first quarter and led 19-11 at halftime.
Sacred Heart closed down to 27-24 after the third box and St. Paul sealed up the title with
an 11-7 run in the fourth quarter.

Pesek had seven rebounds, one steal; Morgan had five rebounds, one assist, one steal; Irvin
had four rebounds, two steals, four deflections; Johnson had three rebounds, one assist, two
steals; Novosad added three rebounds, one assist. Clay had two rebounds, two blocks; Wagner
had two rebounds, one assist, two steals, one deflection; Malatek had two steals.